NBOA produces research reports to help business officers, heads of school and other independent school leaders understand key trends in independent school finances and operations that may inform strategic decisions. Some research reports draw on NBOA’s data sets in the Business Intelligence for Independent Schools (BIIS) platform, and others are produced in collaboration with business partners that serve the independent school community. All research reports are available for FREE to NBOA members. Selected reports are available for nonmembers to purchase. For guidance and thought pieces, see the Industry Guidance page.
Questions? Email research@nboa.org or call 202-407-7140.
NBOA’s Tuition Discounting Report analyzes national trends in tuition discounting rates; types of tuition discounting; students receiving discounts; funding need-based financial aid and merit aid, as well as trends in enrollment, tuition and fees and discounting. The report also includes formulas to help schools calculate their overall tuition discount rate and discount rates by division, and a benchmarking worksheet that includes strategic discussion questions.
The fully updated report is based on financial data from 439 member schools in NBOA’s Business Intelligence for Independent Schools (BIIS) data reporting platform. The greatly expanded dataset, as compared to the 2021 report, is thanks to the DASL-BIIS data collection partnership, which began in 2021.
Schools with a boarding component may be interested in the supplement: "Tuition Discounting Report for Independent PK-12 Independent Boarding Schools: 2021-2023," which focuses exclusively on the context of boarding schools.
Released: 2024
Order Now Members log in here for member access.
Free for members | $125 for nonmembers INCLUDES WEBINAR* **
* Nonmember price includes an NBOA webinar on tuition discounting trends.
Webinar to be held 10/24 at 4 p.m. ET. All purchasers will be emailed with registration details closer to the webinar.
**All sales (for nonmembers) are final. We are unable to issue refunds.
NBOA’s Tuition Discounting Report for PK-12 Independent Boarding Schools is a companion to NBOA’s "Tuition Discounting Report for PK-12 Independent Schools." The boarding school supplement provides analysis of the key indicators of tuition discounting using only the data from schools with a boarding component. Schools with boarding often operate at a different scale than day schools, and the companion report allows schools with boarding to focus on the results of this analysis specific to their operational context.
The report includes national trends in tuition discounting rates; types of tuition discounting; students receiving discounts; funding need-based financial aid and merit aid, as well as trends in enrollment, tuition and fees and discounting. The report also includes a benchmarking worksheet that includes strategic discussion questions.
Released: 2024
Order Now Members log in here for member access.
Free for members | $125 for nonmembers INCLUDES WEBINAR* **
* Nonmember price includes an NBOA webinar on tuition discounting trends.
Webinar to be held 10/24 at 4 p.m. ET. All purchasers will be emailed with registration details closer to the webinar.
**All sales (for nonmembers) are final. We are unable to issue refunds.
.jpg?sfvrsn=dfc668ba_1)
The only research study based on the audited financial statements of independent schools, the Financial State of the Industry report draws on an expansive national data set, thanks to a data collaboration effort with NAIS. The report includes an executive summary and analysis of 17 financial indicators in tuition, enrollment, expenses, annual giving and other areas of interest. Analyses are presented for day schools and schools with boarding as well as by school enrollment. Notable trends in the 2022-23 school year data include increases in operating expenses per student, "gap" per student and annual giving per student.
Released: 2024
Order Now Members log in here for member access.
.jpg?sfvrsn=f97c3632_1)
Each year, NBOA partners with Commonfund Institute to conduct a survey that assesses independent school endowments and their trends. The study explores a number of timely topics, including total returns, asset allocation, spending-and-fund flows, and debt as well as investment management and governance. The data may inform your school’s asset allocation, endowment spending policy and more.
Released: 2024
Download Members log in here for member access.
Members report year: 2023 | Nonmembers report year: 2019
This joint research report from the Enrollment Management Association, National Association of Independent Schools and NBOA provides a formula for estimating the cost to enroll a student, which can be customized to individual schools, and also trend data from independent schools across the country. More important than benchmarking against other schools, however, is for schools to consider what costs go into their enrollment efforts and what returns on those investments are. Key data points include median cost per inquiry, median cost per application, median cost per enrollment and median tuition generated for each dollar spent to enroll a new student. The report includes detailed findings based on day/boarding, grades, size, region and co-ed/single sex as well as key points for leadership discussion and resources for data gathering.
Released: 2022
Members log in here for member access.
In support of NBOA’s goals to support diversity, equity and inclusion within our membership, this report explores the background and career path of current business office professionals. Findings touch on demographic markers such as race, gender and educational background as well as professional experience prior to work in an independent school. The report offers insights into business office professionals’ career satisfaction, career goals and needs for professional development. Extensive data on salaries by position and school type is provided.
Released: 2020
Members log in here for member access.
Free for members | Not available to nonmembers
* All sales are final. We are unable to issue refunds for print or e-books.
Access expert guidance and samples to help your school develop clear, comprehensive, and effective job descriptions for every role.
